Improv class being planned for attorneys

. . . Because doing improv well requires being acutely aware of yourself and others at the same time (just as does conflict resolution), I have used improv structures for years when teaching communication. Get a copy of one of Viola Spolin's books, maybe Improvisation for the Theater, gather up some colleagues, and practice. An extra benefit: It's great fun.

All of us working in conflict resolution know that awareness of our bodies and that of others in the dispute is important for reasons such as reading and projecting body language. Now we are learning even more reasons why that awareness is important.

Self-awareness is a professional obligation, don't you think? I will end with just one reason I think so: When the person facilitating the resolution of the dispute is self-aware, that awareness affects the parties, perhaps through emotional contagion or empathic resonance. (More about that in another post.)

The interest in improv for improving business skills is not just in Atlanta. From the article:

Interest
in workplace-related improv courses has grown in other parts of the
country, too. Second City, the famous Chicago improv troupe, has had to
increase its public workshops this year on improving presentation
skills. There's even a Chicago-based company, Business Improvisations,
that connects professional improv actors and instructors with
corporations wanting improv classes.

Because
of the popularity of business improv training, there are several
options you have for offering this training in your law firm. We offer
them. Many others do, too. I highly recommend a class for your firm.
Improv sharpens mentoring, management, client development, client
relations, negotiation, mediation, teamwork, and any other activity in
which self- and other-awareness is beneficial.

I think that there is no training more necessary for attorneys new and old than improvisation. I was an improvisor and improv workshop teacher first for many years before law school, and the training is great. Thanks, Stepahanie for bring its due attention for those in the legal field.